Karnataka: Days after entering into an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Wednesday shared dais with ex-CM BS Yediyurappa and joined BJP's sit-in protest over the Cauvery water release issue.
Speaking on the Cauvery water issue, Kumaraswamy said, "...the state government has failed in safeguarding the interests of the farmers. They're now playing with the lives of farmers of the state. That's why both JD(S) and BJP are protesting".
"I've seen Deputy CM DK Shivakumar's statement. It has been decided that 3,000 cusecs of Cauvery water should be released to Tamil Nadu. After this decision, he said that he was very happy. But there is a shortage of water in the river," Kumaraswamy added.
Former Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said, "Our CM Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, they must know, that they should not behave like Tamil Nadu agents. They must realise the actual facts. In almost all our reservoirs water is not at all sufficient for even drinking purposes... PM can't interfere in this, the case is in Supreme Court. It's not possible for him to interfere..."
Responding to a media question on some Muslim leaders leaving the JD(S) after alliance with the BJP, Kumaraswamy said, "We will not disrespect any Muslim leader in the JD(S)-BJP alliance. We have discussed all kinds of things with party's state president CM Ibrahim."
On the seat-sharing issue, Kumaraswamy said, "There will be more talks regarding the JD(S)-BJP alliance after the Dussehra festival, where seat sharing may be discussed."
Meanwhile, hitting out at the Congress-led government in the state, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya said, "The present Karnataka government has completely failed. Karnataka must stop releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu."
"The present Congress government has not taken the Cauvery issue seriously. Farmers are literally on the streets and day-by-day the water is flowing to Tamil Nadu. The state government has completely failed in fulfilling its responsibility. The question of PM intervening in this issue does not rise because it is your (present Congress govt) failure...," said BJP MLA BY Vijayendra Yediyurappa.
Not power-hungry, had discussions with party members, says HD Deve Gowda on alliance with BJP
JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda while speaking on alliance with the BJP said, "We are not power-hungary politicians... I held a discussion with Home Minister Amit Shah for the first time in the last 10 years... I have not met PM Modi... I also explained the political situation in Karnataka to the Home Minister. Before joining BJP, I took the views of our 19 MLAs and 8 MLCs who said that the party should consider entering into an understanding with BJP."
When asked about reports of Muslim leaders quitting JD(S) after the party allied with BJP, HD Kumaraswamy said, "There is no question of loss... nobody is resigning, some workers may resign".
"Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee (CWRC) ordered to release 3,000 cusecs of water, I have already spoken to our advocates. They have suggested us to challenge this order in the Supreme Court. We'll challenge it in the Supreme Court. We don't have water to release to Tamil Nadu. We are challenging the orders of the CWRC," said Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
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